NORWAY — A New Gloucester motorcyclist injured in a crash on Route 118 last weekend died Tuesday at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Carroll Francis, 52, was riding on Route 118 near the Red School
House when a car driven by Susan Palmer, 52, of Florida attempted to
make a left turn from the highway into a driveway and crossed in front
of him, Maine State Police Trooper Paul Casey said. Palmer was not
injured in the accident.

Francis, owner of Francis Classic Motorcycle on Lewiston Road in New Gloucester, was remembered Wednesday by employees at L-A Harley-Davidson where he was a customer.

Employee Patrick Waitt said he first heard about the accident on his day off Monday. When he returned to work the next day, there was a note reminding him that Carroll Francis had been in the shop the week before looking for a set of mufflers for an old police bike.

“It kind of gives you that sad feeling,” Waitt said. “He’ll be missed here.”

Waitt said Francis worked on motorcycles and often bought older bikes to fix for resale.
“He’s obviously been riding motorcycles for a long time, and as far as I know was a safe rider,” Waitt said.

Jonathan Dillingham, another employee, said he and Francis used to drag-race motorcycles at Oxford Plains Dragway in Oxford. He said he and Francis would exchange information and tips on motorcycles.

“He was just an honest, smiling guy who loved motorcycles,” Dillingham said. “He rode, and that’s what he did all the time.”
mlangeveld@sunjournal.com